Suction line connection for slush pumps



y 13, 1939- I A. J. PENICK ET AL 2,166,836

SUCTION LINE CONNECTION FOR SLUSH PUMPS Filed March 8, 1937 Patented July 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUCTION LINE CONNECTION FOR SLUSH PUMPS Application March 8, 1937, Serial No. 129,548

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a suction line connection for slush pumps and embodies also a valve structure embodied in said connection for compounding pumps.

f, In well drilling equipment there are usually at least two slush pumps employed for forcing the drilling fluid under pressure down through the drill stem to the drill and back up around the drill stem to the ground surface for carrying away the drill cuttings and for maintaining the walls of the bore. The drilling fluid is under such pressure at the discharge of the pump as is necessary to maintain circulation through the drill pipe and to the drill and back up to the ground surface through the space between the drill pipe and the well bore. Usually only one pump will be in operation at a time, the other or standby pump being kept in reserve to be used in case of break down or to be used for com- 20 pounding, that is, operating the pumps in series for the purpose of obtaining additional pressure since the pumps when in series are capable of exerting their combined forces for generating pressure approximately twice the force of one 25 pump plus the increased volume due to the complete efiicient fill of the booster pump in the absence of its suction lift. When two pumps are combined or run in series, one pump only is used to pick up the drilling fluid or slush or water 30 from the pit or tank. This pump discharges the drilling fluid into the suction of the other pump, which suction in the present instance may be shut off or closed from the source of drilling fluid by means of the valve structure embodied in the s connection and hereinafter described.

This invention relates to a novel type of connection of the suction line leading from the pit to a pump whereby said suction line may be readily adjusted vertically as may be required.

40 The invention also comprehends a novel combination of swiveling connection and shut ofi valve more particularly hereinafter described.

With the above and other objects in View the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompany drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a horizontal, sectional view of the combined connection and shut off valve.

Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l, and

Figure 3 shows a plan view of two connected slush pumps, showing the suction lines, one of which is equipped with the combined connection and shut 01f valve mechanism.

In the drawing the numerals l. and 2 designate slush pumps shown equipped with suction lines 3, 4, leading from a suitable slush pit 5 5 and connected into the intake of the pumps. Each pump has a discharge pipe indicated respectively by the numerals 6, I, and these discharge pipes are connected into a common discharge line 8 which is connected with the top 10 of the drill stem in any conventional manner. Each discharge pipe is equipped with a valve, said valves being indicated respectively by the numerals 9, HJ.

Leading from the discharge pipe I and entering the suction pipe of the pump I there is the pipe I l which is controlled by the valve l2. The suction end of the pump I has a flange nipple I3 bolted or otherwise secured thereto and the outer end of this nipple is threaded to receive a ring nut 14 which is screwed thereon. There is an elbow l5, one end of which is fitted onto the nipple l3 over the nut 14. Within this end of the elbow there is a stuffing box comprising the packing l6 and the gland H which is bolted to the corresponding end of the union and which clamps the packing l6 against the ring nut I4.

Between the outer end of the nipple l3 and the opposing annular shoulder l8 of the elbow there is suitable packing assembly I9. The pipe II has a swiveling connection with the elbow opposite the nipple i3. The suction pipe 3 is screwed into the other end of the elbow as shown in Figure 4 and this last mentioned end of said elbow has a valve seat 20 with which the valve 2| is adapted to cooperate to open and close the suction line 3. Opposite the valve seat 20 there is a bonnet 22 screwed into the elbow and whose outer end is provided with internal coarse threads 23. A stem 24 extends axially through the bonnet and has external coarse threads 25 to intermesh with the threads 23. A suitable stufiing box 26 is mounted in the bonnet around the stem 24. The stem 24 has a swiveling connection with the valve 2|.

The inner end of the bonnet is provided with a tapering seat 21 and the stem 24 has an enlargement thereon which is tapered to form the external seat 28 so that when the valve 2i is moved to open position the seat 28 will fit tightly into the seat 21 to prevent leakage through the bonnet. This is necessary as at times the fluid will be subjected to high pressure especially when the pumps are compounded.

As is well known to those familiar with the well drilling art there is a hose leading from the dis- 5 charge line 8 which is connected into a swivel at the upper end of the drill stem and through which the drilling fluid is forced down through the drill stem as above stated. As hereinabove indicated only one of the pumps usually operates at a time, as for example, the pump 2, in which case the valves 9 and [2 will be closed and the valve II) will be open and drilling fluid will be drawn through the intake pipe 4 from the slush pit and forced through the discharge pipe "I and on through the discharge line 8 and down through the drill stem. At times, however, additional pressure and velocity may be required and in order to meet this requirement the pumps may be combined. In order to combine the pumps the valve 2| should be closed and the valves l and I2 should be opened and the valve 9 closed. Upon starting both pumps the pump 2 will pump into the suction of the pump i and the pump I will pump the drilling fluid out through the pipe I and thence through the line 8 on down through the drill stem.

All of the drilling fluid will be drawn in through the intake pipe 4 and the combined force of both pumps will be utilized for driving the drilling fluid through the discharge line and drill stem.

The construction permits the suction pipe 3 to be freely adjusted relative to the slush pit as circumstances may require.

The drawing and description disclose what is now considered to be a preferred form of the invention by way of illustration only, while the broad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In combination two pumps, each having a suction line and a discharge line, a union having a swiveling connection with the intake connection of one pump and into which the corresponding suction line is connected, valve means within the union whereby the corresponding suction line may be opened or closed, a discharge line leading from the other pump and being connected into said union in axial alignment with said intake connection.

2. In combination two pumps, each having a suction line and a discharge line, a union having a swiveling connection with the intake connection of one pump and into which the corresponding suction line is connected, a discharge line leading from the other pump an having a swiveling connection with the union in axial alignment with said intake connection, a valve seat in the union in axial alignment with the corresponding suction line, a valve movable into one position against the seat to close said suction line and movable into another position away from the seat to open the suction line, means accessible to an operator for actuating the valve, said suction line, union, valve and valve operating means being movable as a unit about the axis of said intake connection.

ARTHUR J. PENICK. KIRBY T. PENICK. REUBEN F. DAVIS. 

